Research Tips

Start With City Directories

Historical city directories are the single best resource for researching local businesses. These annual publications listed every business and resident by address, making them perfect for tracking who operated where and when.

How to Use City Directories

• Find Digital Collections: Many libraries have digitized historical directories (search "[your city] city directory digital archive").
• Look for Patterns: Check multiple years to see when businesses appeared and disappeared from addresses.
• Check Both Sections: Directories had alphabetical business listings AND street-by-street listings.
• Note Publication Dates: Directories were usually published annually but reflected information from the previous year.
• Cross-Reference: Compare what directories say with newspaper ads and other sources.

Search Newspaper Archives

Historical newspapers contain treasure troves of business information—advertisements, grand opening announcements, sale notices, and even obituaries mentioning where people worked.

Newspaper Research Strategies

• Use Multiple Search Terms: Search business name, owner name, and address variations.
• Browse Classified Ads: Businesses advertised regularly in classified sections.
• Check Anniversary Editions: Special editions often featured histories of local businesses.
• Look for Photo Sections: Sunday supplements and special features included business photos.
• Read Obituaries: They often mention where deceased individuals worked or owned businesses.
• Seasonal Patterns: Retail businesses advertised heavily before holidays and back-to-school season.

Visit Local Archives and Historical Societies

Your local historical society and library special collections are goldmines of information that often isn't digitized anywhere else.

What to Ask For

• Vertical Files: Clipping files organized by subject, often including business histories.
• Photo Collections: Historical photos often labeled with locations and dates.
• Maps and Plat Books: Historical maps showing building footprints and property owners.
• Local History Books: Published histories of the area with business information.
• Oral History Collections: Recorded interviews with longtime residents.
• Building Survey Records: Architectural surveys documenting historic buildings.

Check Government Records

Municipal and county records contain definitive information about buildings, businesses, and property ownership.

Valuable Government Sources

• Building Permits: Show construction dates, renovations, and original purposes of buildings.
• Property Records: Tax assessor records and deeds show ownership history.
• Business Licenses: Some cities maintain historical business license records.
• Zoning Records: Document changes in property use over time.
• Fire Insurance Maps: Sanborn maps show building footprints and uses (1867-1970).
• City Council Minutes: Discussions of zoning changes, business approvals, etc.

Use Online Genealogy Resources

Genealogy websites aren't just for family trees—they're excellent for business research because they index census records, directories, and other documents mentioning occupations and business owners.

How Genealogy Sites Help Business Research

• Census Records: List occupations and business owners (1850-1950 available).
• City Directory Collections: Many sites have digitized and searchable directories.
• Newspaper Archives: Searchable historical newspaper databases.
• Photo Collections: User-uploaded historical photos often include businesses.
• User Trees: Other researchers may have documented family businesses.

Dating Historical Photos

Photos are invaluable historical evidence, but only if you can date them accurately. Learn to use contextual clues to determine when photos were taken.

Photo Dating Techniques

• Vehicles: Car models can narrow dates to specific years or ranges.
• Architecture: Building styles and details indicate construction eras.
• Signage: Business signs, street signs, and advertisements show specific businesses and time periods.
• Clothing: Fashion styles change predictably by decade.
• Street Features: Paving, streetlights, traffic signals evolved over time.
• Photo Technology: Daguerreotypes, tintypes, cabinet cards, color processing all date to specific eras.

For more detailed guidance, see our Guide to Dating Historical Photos.

Interview Longtime Residents

Oral history is invaluable for filling gaps that documents miss. People who lived through an era remember details that never made it into official records.

Conducting Effective Interviews

• Prepare Questions: Research beforehand so you can ask specific, informed questions.
• Ask Open-Ended: "Tell me about..." works better than yes/no questions.
• Record It: With permission, record interviews for accuracy.
• Follow Tangents: Sometimes the best information comes from stories they volunteer.
• Ask for Photos: Many people have photos they'd be willing to share or lend for scanning.
• Verify When Possible: Check facts against documents, but don't dismiss memories if you can't verify them.
• Document Uncertainty: Note when interviewees say "I think" or "probably"—their honesty about uncertainty is valuable.

Best Practices for Research

Research Habits That Lead to Success

• Document Everything: Keep notes on sources, dates you accessed them, and what you found.
• Cite Your Sources: Record exactly where information came from for future verification.
• Use Multiple Sources: Corroborate facts with at least two independent sources when possible.
• Be Skeptical: Memory can be imperfect; verify oral histories with documents.
• Embrace Uncertainty: It's okay to say "approximately" or "possibly"—honesty about uncertainty is better than guessing.
• Think Creatively: If one avenue hits a dead end, try approaching from different angles.
• Network: Join local history groups and connect with other researchers.
• Share What You Find: Contributing to When It Was helps everyone and sometimes prompts others to share additional information.

Overcoming Common Research Challenges

When Research Gets Difficult

Challenge: Can't find any records for a specific business.
Solution: Try alternate spellings, check if the business used a different name officially, search for owner names instead.

Challenge: Conflicting dates from different sources.
Solution: Prioritize primary sources (original documents) over secondary (published histories). Note the discrepancy and indicate uncertainty.

Challenge: Gaps in directory coverage for certain years.
Solution: Use newspapers from those years, check census records (every 10 years), or bracket the date range.

Challenge: Business names that were very common (like "Smith's Market").
Solution: Search with address included, look for distinguishing details like owner first name or specific products sold.

Challenge: Photos with no information at all.
Solution: Post to local history social media groups—crowdsourcing often identifies locations and dates.